Shai watched Nya pad off, the sound of the giant cat's movement silent after only a short distance. As if reading his mate's mind, the Benshira looked up into the tree holding Nya's clothes. Replacing the arrow and slinging the bow back over his shoulder, he climbed up into the lower branches, roughly 10 feet from the ground. Removing the bow again and leaning against the trunk, Shai positioned himself to see clearly into the forest where Nya had disappeared. He did not like it that he could not see her and, nocking an arrow to the composite bow's string, he waited anxiously. The dense forest air was cut by the angry blast from the elk's throat, and the forest cat's fierce cry. The sound of the heavy pounding of the massive beast's hooves reached him before he saw Nya tearing through the woods, the bull elk crashing after her. Gods, it was close to her. The raging creature barreled closer to his bondmate, who was running literally for her life. He suddenly questioned the whole endeavour, wondered if his foolish male pride would end up getting Nya injured or killed. Training and instinct kicked in, and Shai raise the bow, waiting for a clear shot. He let the arrow fly from the powerful bow, already reaching for a second as the first streaked towards the elk and plunged into its neck, near the shoulder. The animal barely flinched. The second arrow was set and flew as Nya and the elk raced by, Shai stunned as the expanse of antlers actually passed him at eye level. The second missile struck the bull's hip and it stumbled slightly, giving Nya the edge to slip out of reach. Enraged, the beast braced to stop, debris from the forest floor sent flying as its hooves slid to a halt. It bugled again, throwing its head around, its massive rack ripping apart low hanging limbs overhead. Blood had begun to seep from the arrow wounds, staining its hide with crimson streaks. The elk paused for a moment in still silence, sniffing the air. Shai slowly slipped another arrow from his quiver and laid it against the string of his bow. As if the beast had spotted him, the giant elk turned his panting muzzle towards the man in the tree. With a sudden burst the creature launched himself towards Shai. Wide-eyed, he let his arrow fly with little aim, and the iron head grazed the elk across the face, opening a gash over its right eye. |